Page 36 - january 2022

QUARTER NOTE

Adapting to Change

David Freedman, PM2

A few months ago, I wrote about how unprepared to Zoom fatigue at this point.
I felt when I returned to work. To some extent, Quite a few friends lost their jobs, and some

this is still the case. I recently made the decision of them have yet to recover and find work, so
to stop looking for work as a transcriptionist I know I’m in good company. Until recently,
as I’d been employed in that field for well over my mother and I co-owned a transcription
twenty years. business, but with the advent of the pandemic,

Nonetheless, the prospect of searching for our clients dried up as fewer projects were
a new job terrified me. When I talked to my being completed. I made the decision to leave
mother, I admitted that I didn’t like the feeling transcription in part because of the lack of
of starting back at square one. Wise woman that clients as well as the technological shift toward

she is, she pointed out that I was older and had voice recognition making transcription work
a wealth of experiences and skills that would harder to come by. Changing my career seemed
put me in good stead with most employers. In to be the best choice, but it isn’t by any means
other words, I’d be coming out much further the easiest one.

ahead than I would have nearly thirty years ago At a recent Toastmasters meeting, I gave a
when I was just out of college. All true, and yet speech lovingly titled, “But I’m Not Ready Yet!”
seeking employment in the time of Covid-19 which talked about my own insecurities in
continued to scare me. going back to work. In that speech I gave people

The funny thing is, I watched other friends suggestions about what to do when you don’t feel
and family continue to work throughout this ready to adapt or move on. Believe me when I tell
period. I’ve been impressed with people’s you there are times I wish I could take my own
willingness to weather impossibly difficult advice. I know very well through my speech and

circumstances by adapting as best they can. personal experience that learning to breathe,
Many of us did so by working from home, let alone taking much-needed time for yourself,
assuming those jobs were available. For those can reduce your stress level enormously. Yet I’ve
friends who still had to go into the office, they been hard on myself for much of this pandemic

did so infrequently so as to reduce the risk of because I feel I need to be doing something to
infection. And of course, Zoom became our feel worthwhile. To work and make money
biggest resource for maintaining contact during even when there’s no work coming in. It took
that time, although most of us have confessed me forever to realize that this pandemic has

36 ONE COMMUNITY